Remains of lost Spanish fort found on South Carolina coast

In this undated image provided by Amanda Thompson with the University of Georgia shows archeologists Chester DePratter, left, with the University of South Carolina and Victor Thompson, right, of the University of Georgia, running ground penetrating radar across a land grid. Archaeologists have found the location of a long-sought Spanish fort on the South Carolina coast near Beaufort. The location of San Marcos, one of five forts that operated during the 21-year history of the early Spanish settlement of Santa Elena, has been found on Parris Island. (Amanda Thompson/University of Georgia via AP) In this undated image provided by Amanda Thompson with the University of Georgia shows archeologists Chester DePratter, left, with the University of South Carolina and Victor Thompson, right, of the University of Georgia, running ground penetrating radar across a land grid. Archaeologists have found the location of a long-sought Spanish fort on the South Carolina coast near Beaufort. The location of San Marcos, one of five forts that operated during the 21-year history of the early Spanish settlement of Santa Elena, has been found on Parris Island. (Amanda Thompson/University of Georgia via AP)

By Associated Press July 26, 2016 2 min read

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) – Archaeologists have found the location of a long-sought Spanish fort on the South Carolina coast at the site of what was once the first capital of Spanish Florida.

A release from the University of South Carolina says the site of San Marcos, one of five forts built during the 21-year history of the early settlement of Santa Elena, has finally been located on Parris Island near Hilton Head Island.

University of South Carolina archaeologist Chester DePratter and Victor Thompson of the Center for Archaeological Sciences at the University of Georgia, have conducted research for the past two years to find the site of the 1577 fort.

Using ground-penetrating radar and other high-tech equipment last month, they found the site and are publishing the details of their work this week in The Journal of Archaeology Science Reports.

Santa Elena, founded in 1566 to protect Spanish shipping interests, was the first capital of Spanish colonial Florida. The site of the settlement itself was located back in 1979 beneath a golf course at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island.